Annie is a clown with her best friend Missy, but otherwise she’s pretty shy. It’s not often that she engages her human caregivers in anything other than a brief greeting. Today, though, I caught her in a playful mood as she was making a nest in the front rooms.
primate rescue
A new doll for Foxie
When Foxie gets a new doll that she really loves, she often engages in what I’ll call “ritualistic adoration behavior” (don’t quote me on that — I just made it up). You’ll see what I mean when you watch this video that Jackie put together:
Missy and Diana
How to Nest by Jody and Missy
Jody and Missy are master nest-builders. I managed to get some recent photos of them making midday nests.
Jody’s step one: stand in the middle of the nest and build it around you.
Jody’s step two: include both sheets and blue paper in the nest for full comfort
Jody’s step three: dive face first into the bed (this movement often accompanied by a “Jody happy noise”)
Jody’s step four: enjoy the comfort you’ve created
Missy’s step one: first see if someone will play with you if you put a blanket over your head
Missy’s step two: if no one takes the play bait, proceed with nest-making by placing blankets around you where you sit
Missy’s step three: unfold and place blankets carefully
Missy’s step four: do a headstand
Missy’s step four: roll into a comfortable position and enjoy
Lunch
Missy managed to get three of the seven onions that were just harvested from the garden:
When Missy was done with them, Jamie finished them off:
Annie enjoyed the carrots from Cloudview Ecofarm:
Burrito munched on lettuce:
Jody, as usual, laid down to eat:
Grooming
Grooming, generally a very calm activity, is a really important part of chimpanzee culture. It establishes and strengthens friendships and alliances. Chimps part the hair and pick out any debris or dead skin. They also will groom scabs off of themselves and each other.
Left to right: Missy grooms Burrito’s head. Burrito grooms Foxie’s back. Foxie grooms Burrito’s arm.
Annie (right) grooms Missy’s face. Chimpanzees often use their lips as well as their fingers to groom themselves and others.
Jody (left) and Missy (right) groom Jamie (center, wearing scarf of trolls). This photo was taken shortly after Jamie had been ill for a few days and had been separated briefly from the group (though they could all still see each other). Grooming is very common when chimpanzees are reunited after even a short separation.
To nest or to play?
Burrito and Missy have so much fun together! They played this particular game for nearly an hour this morning.
